The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
NORTHERN OHIO.

Akron, o., August IL, 1SS7.-[To the
Editor of The UNIvERsALIsT. lon last
Sabbath, the Catholics OF NorthernsO Ohio,
in large numbers, from Cleveland,
Youngstown, and other neighboring cit
les, assembled in Akron to witness the
laying OF the corner stone OF st. Demands
high school, a $4,000 structure, now in
process OF erection, for the use of our
German Catholic fellow citizens. Among
the many clergymen and celebrities pres
ent was the Rt. Rev, Bishop Gilmour, OF
Cleveland, who gave the address of the
occasion.
Wall from Bishop Gilmour.
We can scarcely dignity his remarks
by the word "address," since it was for
the most part made up of false charges
against our government, which he at
tempted to base ON the principle, "No
representation no taxation" together
with the hue and cry about the "burden"
OF building and sustaining their own
schools. Said the bishop: Why are we
burdened to build this structure and ed
ucate our children at our own expense?
1t is because the principle no represen-
tation, no taxation is violated by our gov
ernment." This charge was iterated and
reiterated, and yet it has no foundation
in fact. Any schoolboy may readily
show its absurdity.
We are willing to accord all the rights
and privileges to our Catholic brethren
that is accorded to any other denomina-
ton; but when Roman Catholic prelate,
enjoying the right of citizenship and all
the blessings that implies, while in the
act of laying the corner stone of one of
their sectarian schools, charges such in
justice upon our country, we feel called
upon to brand the statement as untrue
and unpatriotic.
For church whose hands are red with
the blood OF martyrs and which denies to
it's members the right of private iudg-
ment in matters of religion, to bring such
an accusation against an impartial gov
eminent like the United States, is well
calculated to place that church in an
unenviable attitude before an enlighten-
ed public. These charges come with a
bad grace from church that uses her
temporal power, whenever and wherever
she can gain such temporal power, to op-
press her subjects. 1t is false to say that
our government, in this case, violates the
rule, "no taxation without representa-
tion." Had the Bishop said that by with
holding their children from that suitable
and needful instruction provided by our
government to make them good and use
ful citizens, such as no parochial school
Provides say had he said that in so
doing Catholics violate the principles OF
good citizenship, he would have come
much nearer the truth. 1t would be far
better for our country, and for Oath
olics themselves, il our Catholic fell
low citizens were accustomed to sending
their children to our public schools; for
there all meet on a common level and are
taught and fitted for the duties of Amer
lean citizenship as they are taught no.
where else. Our public schools help to
Break Down sectarian Prejudices
and to teach each TO respect the rights of
all others. For these reasons it is unpa-
triotic for our Catholic brethren to with
hold their children from these benefits
as American citizens. But they tell Us
our schools are goddess" Well, as to
that, the records of police courts and Of
penitentiaries, clearly demonstrates the
fact that all the godlessness is not on the
part of our public schools; and this talk
about the conscience forbidding them to
educate their children in our schools,
does it not seem more than anything else
pretext on the part OF the priesthood to
keep their adherents in igu ORANGE, and
hence under subjection? II our Catholic
brethren want sectarian schools in this
country, by all means let them have
them, but
Let them Foot the Bill as all other seets
do and make no fuss about it. This wall
about the burden is unmanly and seems
used only to arouse sympathy for the
Catholic cause. 1t would be sad day
for our government when We consent to
division of our school fund for sectariRn
purposes; and the Bishop mistakes the
temper of highly tolerant nation, when
he supposes such policy can and ought
to become the settled policy of this coun-
try. Were the concession made in the
case of the Catholics, where would the
matter end? 1t would end in the de-
struetion OF our public school system and
the turning over of large numbers of